Axar Patel wreaked havoc on New Zealand batting line-up on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between India and the Kiwis in Kanpur on Saturday. Axar picked up a five-wicket haul as India bundled out the Kiwis for 296 runs in their first innings to gain a crucial lead of 49 runs ahead of their second innings.

Wasim Jaffer takes a dig at Axar Patel over his 'only mistake' in 1st Test, Suryakumar Yadav responds

Axar Patel continued his fine form with the ball for Team India on Saturday as he ran through New Zealand batting line-up on Day 3 of the onging first Test between the two sides in Kanpur.

'This one's for my hero': Axar Patel dedicates his five-wicket haul to his father on latter's birthday

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed figures of 5-62 to help India grab a handy 49-run first-innings lead in the opening test against New Zealand on Saturday. The home side suffered a setback, however, with Shubman Gill`s late dismissal as they finished day three on 14-1 at Kanpur`s Green Park Stadium.

Axar Patel's five-wicket haul gives India handy lead over New Zealand on Day 3 of 1st Test

Senior Indian spinner R Ashwin was involved in a heated on-field exchange with umpire Nitin Menon during Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between India and New Zealand on Saturday.

R Ashwin involved in heated argument with umpire Nitin Menon over his followthrough - WATCH

Shreyas Iyer made heads turn on his Test debut during Day One of the Kanpur Test between India and New Zealand, on Thursday (November 25). Taking India to 258-4 at stumps, Iyer was unbeaten on 75 and looked comfortable as his innings progressed.

Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Shreyas Iyer slams ton on debut, joins Rohit, Azharuddin and other Indians in elite list

Tim Southee bowled an incisive morning spell to take five wickets which was then brilliantly complemented by openers Will Young and Tom Latham as New Zealand dominated India to reach 129 for no loss on the second day of the opening Test here on Friday.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test Day 2: Southee, openers bring New Zealand back in game as visitors reach 129 for no loss

Shubman Gill missed the entire England Test series due to injury. However, he got the opening position back when Ajinkya Rahane-led India locked horns with New Zealand in the two-match Test series opener at Green Park, Kanpur on Thursday morning (November 25).

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Test cricket has returned in India after the India-England series, which was held early this year. Following the IPL 2021 edition's final leg and T20 World Cup, both held in the UAE, the longest format has returned for the national side as Ajinkya Rahane-led India have locked horns with Kane Williamson's New Zealand in the series opener of the two-match Tests, in Green Park, Kanpur on Thursday (November 25).

Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Ashwin on verge of surpassing Harbhajan in elite list during series opener in Kanpur

After a gruelling T20 season, with IPL 2021's final leg followed by T20 World Cup in the UAE, Test cricket has now returned for the cricket lovers worldwide. While Sri Lanka-West Indies are involved in a Test series in the island nation, Team India have also kicked off their Test season with the first Test versus New Zealand underway in Kanpur on Thursday (November 25).

Ind vs NZ: Wasim Jaffer wins the internet with epic post as Test cricket returns after IPL 2021, T20 WC

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt praised Indian all-rounder Axar Patel and called him "extremely talented" but he also weighed in on the comparison between Patel and senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja stating that the latter is a "complete player".

'Don't think Axar and Jadeja are in the same league,' says former Pakistan cricketer

India and New Zealand locked horns with each other in the two-match Test series opener on Thursday morning (November 25) at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. Electing to bat first, the Ajinkya Rahane-led hosts went to the lunch break at 82/1, riding on opener Shubman Gill's 52, and ended the day's play at a comfortable position, i.

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Fine half-centuries by Shreyas Iyer (75 not out off 136 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (50 not out off 100 balls) helped India reach 258/4 in 84 overs at stumps on Day One of first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium here on Thursday.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja's 113-run stand takes hosts to 258/4 at stumps on Day 1

Virat Kohli had a tough time in IPL 2021 and the T20 World Cup. Leading RCB and India's T20I side for the final time, Kohli couldn't inspire both his franchise and national side to glory in the IPL 14's final leg and the seventh edition of the T20 WC, respectively, in the UAE.

Virat Kohli gears up for 2nd Test vs NZ in Mumbai, trains with RCB coach Sanjay Bangar

Shreyas Iyer became India's 303rd Test cricketer on Thursday morning (November 25) as he received the elusive cap from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar ahead of the commencement of the first Test between India and New Zealand.

Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: 'Very well deserved' - Ponting shares heartfelt post for debutant Shreyas Iyer

New Zealand all-rounder Kyle Jamieson feels that playing Test cricket in India will be a different challenge, considering he is touring the country for the first time.

IND v NZ, 1st Test: Going to be different challenge to what we get back home, says Kyle Jamieson

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer opened up how captain Rohit Sharma and newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid, including other seniors, supported him during India vs New Zealand three-match T20I series that India won 3-0.

'It was a special feeling': Venkatesh Iyer hails Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid for supporting him

Ahead of India's first Test versus New Zealand, at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, head coach Rahul Dravid bowled some off-spin at the nets. The video has gone viral in no time as it was shared of Team India's official Instagram handle.

VIRAL: Team India coach Rahul Dravid resorts to off-spin in nets ahead of 1st Test vs NZ - WATCH

After the three T20Is, the action will now move to the two-match Test series between India and New Zealand. The series opener will commence on Thursday (November 25) with Ajinkya Rahane-led India to lock horns with the Kane Williamson-led Black Caps at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test live streaming: When and where to watch India vs New Zealand match live online?

Team India will face Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in the series opener of the two-match Test series at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur on Thursday (November 25). The Test series will be India's first-ever under new head coach Rahul Dravid and the national side will be eager to continue their dominant run in the purest format under the former Indian captain.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: With Shreyas Iyer set to debut, predicting Team India's XI for series opener in Kanpur

After the three-match T20I series, the action between India and New Zealand will now move to the two-match Test series, starting from Thursday (November 25) at The Green Park Stadium, Kanpur.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test prediction: Who will win series opener between India and New Zealand in Kanpur?

Rohit Sharma-led Team India thrashed New Zealand 3-0 in the three T20Is. Following the T20 World Cup debacle, the Men in Blue beat the Black Caps to kick off a new era in Indian cricket.

Former Pak captain praises Rahul Dravid for his 'was never going to be easy on NZ' remark post T20I series

India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes that new head coach Rahul Dravid's extensive expertise in the longer format would help the Test squad improve as a team. Following a thrashing T20I series triumph over New Zealand, India, coached by Dravid, will play New Zealand in a two-match Test series beginning on Thursday.

Rahul Dravid's experience will help India recover after WTC final loss: Cheteshwar Pujara

Ahead of the series opener of the two-match Test series between India and New Zealand, the Ajinkya Rahane-led Team India have been dealt with a major blow. KL Rahul, who was one of their star performers with the bat in the England Tests, has been ruled out of the series due to a muscle strain on his left thigh.

KL Rahul ruled out of NZ Tests due to injury, Suryakumar Yadav named replacement

Team India demolished New Zealand in the three T20Is and have now shifted their focus on the two-match Test series, starting from November 25 in Kanpur. The series will give India a chance to not only move forward in the second cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), but also take revenge on the Kiwis, who defeated them in the final of the inaugural WTC early this year.

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